Method of bessemerizing copper matte.



w G. H. BENJAMIN. METHOD OFBRSSEMERIZING COPPER MATTE.

APPLICATION FILED D150. 8, 1906.

Patented Oct 5, E968.

INVENTOR ESSES s'rAT-ns PATENT n a 5k J-GJ GEORGE HILLAR'D BENJAMIN, or New YORK, N. Y.

r m'rnon or nnssmmnrzmslcorezen MATTE.

Specification of Letters'P'atent;

Patented out. asses;

Application filed December 8, 19116. Serial No. 346,912.

To all whom it may concern." I p Be it known that I, GEORGE HrLLAnn BENJAMIN, a citizenof the United States,-..re-

siding in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a Method of Bessemerizing Cop er Matte, of which the following is a speci cation.

My invention consists of a method of treat ing copper matte for the production of commercial metal. V

The objects of my invention are :--First5 to do away with the introduction of a solid reducing fuel into, the converter after the oxidation of the iron and sulfur has been effected. Second! to provide readilycontrollable means for malntaining the heat of the copper and effecting the final reduction of the oxidized co per. Third: a method of o eration in whic the reducing agents em p 0 ed are in the form of gas and readily contro lable to insure positive results.-

B'roadly considered, my improved method consists in first introducing an air blast to' oxidize the iron and sulfur of the matte, and in connection with the lining of the convert er form a slag, and subsequently, through the introduction of a reducing gas capable of generating a high temperature, maintain the,

ducer of any well known type, preferably such as will produce a gas high in carbon and hydrogen, that shown in the drawings is known as the Otto type.

6 is a scrubber of the'usualconstruction'. The scrubber is not essentlal, but when used serves to purify the gas. The scrubber takes gas from the producer through ipes 7, 8,

and delivers it to the induction ori ce 9 of the gas pump 10, through the pipe 11. I

1 12 indicates a converter of the usual'type, provided with the twyers 14. These twyers may be fed with gas, or gas and air, delivered into the chamber 15 from'the gas pump 10 and air pump 16., The gaspump is connected through-- a pipe 17, connected to its eduction orifice in which is a valve18. The

connected to' its induction orifice in w rich is a valve 20.

air pump isp eonnected through a pi e 19 ,v

In order to maintain the ressures of the gas, the gas pump is provide with. a regulat ing valve 21 which controls a by-pass 22, and the air pump is provided with a weighted valve .23. I prefer that the gas and air should be deliveredthe gas at a pressure of 1% pounds, and the air at a pressure of 1 pound, to the square inch,

The method of operation is as follows:

The molten matte" 30 having been inserted into the converter 12, the valve 18 in pipe 17 is closed, which shuts oii the supply of gas, and valve .20 in pipe 19 opened. This per mits air under pressure to be introduced through the twyers 14 into the matte and this air supply is continued until complete oxidation of the iron and sulfur ofthe matte has been eiiected and these bodies combined with the lining of the converter to form a off. The'co per remaining the converter by such pre 'minary step of oxidation has become partiall oxidized and as in combination with air it has no heat generating properties it tends to cool and choke the twyers. To avoid this condition and to reduce the oxid of copper formed, thevalve 18 in the pipe 17 is opened and a mingled stream of gas and air derived from the so slag. At such time the'sla can be drawn.

pumps 10 and 16 delivered into the con-- verter throu h the twyers 14 and ignited. This mingle streanrof gas and en, delivered under the conditions above speci fied, will generate an. extremely high temperature, and, further, owing to the presence of an excess of hydrogen in such gas acts to reduce the remaining oxid in the copper,

while maintaining the copper at. the. re-

quired temperature'to effect itsfconversion into a commercial metal.

ion

Having thus described my invention, 1:

claim:

1. The herein'described. method of treating copper matte when in a converter having a suitable lining, whichconsists in successivel subjecting it to the action first of an oxi' izing gas, than of a reducing gas capable when i nited of maintaining the temperature of t e copper.

2. The herein described method which consists in subjecting copper matte while in 'a converter having it suitable lining to the converter to the action of a, reducing gesunder pressure and capable of generating a high temperature when ignited.

3; A step in the process of treating copper matte which consists in'introducing into the metal in the converter after oxidation and the formation of e slag a reducing gas under pressure and capable of generating ahigh temperature when ignited,

4. A method of 'bessemerizing copper herein described, which consists in successively subjecting it to the action of an oxidizing gas and a reducing gas, the last gas employed capable of generating, when ignited, at high teni 'iereture. 5. the herein described method of besseinerizing copper matte, which consists in introducing it into it heated converter, then subjecting it to thcnction of an air blast, then to the action of a reducing gas capnble, when ignited, of generating an extremely high temperature.

In testiinon whereof, I aflix m'y' signs ture, in the presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE HILLARD BENJAllHN. Witnesses:

FREDERICK A. BLoUN'r FRANK OCoNNon. 

